LUMIX® GF2C 12.1 Megapixel Compact System Camera 14 mm Lens Kit

DMC-GF2C

Features

Introduction

Panasonic's LUMIX DMC-GF2 is the signature DSL Micro Compact System camera in its impressive mirrorless lineup. Though it's the smallest and lightest Panasonic model, the GF2 nevertheless manages to deliver the superior image quality you expect from the LUMIX series. Compared to its predecessor, the GF2 is 19% smaller and 7% lighter, yet it has the same all-metal body and integrated flash.

Touch control and the new Graphic User Interface make this an extremely easy to use camera, no matter what your experience level. Simple button features, dedicated buttons for movie recording and Intelligent Auto Mode and a compact design, contribute to the GF2s exceptionally intuitive operation.

The DMC-GF2 is available in several designer colors including true black, pure white, silver, pink and a vibrant red.

Technology

Micro Four Thirds System Technology: The GF2 conforms to the Micro Four Thirds System standard. By eliminating the mirror box and optical viewfinder from the camera body, the GF2 benefits from a dramatic reduction in size and weight compared to conventional DSLR cameras.

3.0-inch LCD with 460,000-dot High Resolution: The generous 3.0-inch 3:2 LCD screen has a 460,000-dot resolution and a 100% field of view that makes it possible to frame shots in a variety of ways, for both taking photographs and viewing playback. With LUMIX's acclaimed Intelligent LCD technology, screen brightness is adjusted in 11 individual steps depending on the shooting conditions. Images are reproduced with stunning clarity and sharpness in virtually any situation, from bright daylight to nighttime and from high-angle to low-angle. The large screen also makes sharing photos and videos fun and very easy.

12.1-megapixel Live MOS Sensor: The comprehensive digital imaging technology on the GF2 has been newly redeveloped. The result is a higher level of image quality that surpasses many DSLR cameras.

The powerful 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor offers the superior image quality of a CCD sensor with the energy efficiency of a CMOS sensor. The advanced circuit structure is unaffected by noise generated in the individual circuits, so photo and movie images are clear even at high ISO sensitivity levels. The sensor's advanced technology also makes it possible for the GF2 to read four channels of data simultaneously, which helps the camera produce images at 60 frames per second so that Full-time Live View Images are wonderfully smooth.

Venus Engine: The DMC-GF2 is equipped with a Venus Engine that offers high performance signal processing for both stills and movies. The advanced noise reduction system, which includes Chromatic Noise Reduction and 3D Noise Reduction, produces crisp, naturally balanced images, even when shooting at a high ISO. This helps prevent the color bleeding and deterioration of resolution that can occur due to chromatic abnormalities.

Combined with the Live MOS sensor, the Venus Engine captures amazing 12.1-megapixel, high resolution images with dazzling accuracy. The faster signal processing enables a smooth, clear live view for better photo editing and enhancement.

Interchangeable Lenses: The major appeal of interchangeable lens system cameras like the GF2 is their ability to provide more flexibility when taking images, simply by switching the lens. The GF2 is compatible with the entire lineup of LUMIX G and Leica DG lenses; including fisheye, ultra-wide angle, telephoto and HD video recording. This gives far greater creative control over photos and videos. Optional DMW-MA1, DMW-MA2M and DMW-MA3R mount adaptors allow the GF2 to be used with an even greater selection of lenses.

Dust Reduction System: While swapping lenses on an interchangeable system camera surely has advantages, it also presents a risk. If dust or debris gets inside the camera when lenses are changed, it can cling to the image sensor and leave marks on the images. This can be particularly apparent in areas of sky and is emphasized when shooting at small apertures. However, the GF2 has been outfitted with a Dust Reduction System that eliminates the possibility of sensor contamination by using a Supersonic Wave Filter. Located in front of the Live MOS sensor between the low-pass filter and the shutter, the Supersonic filter vibrates approximately 50,000 times per second to repel dust and particles before they can reach the image sensor. This helps protect the camera's internal mechanism and will maintain unblemished image quality.

Functionality

Intelligent Auto (iA) Mode: If you've been putting off buying a DSLR camera because you think they're just too complicated for everyday use, wait no longer. The DMC-GF2 has all the power of a complex DSLR with the usability of an everyday point-and-shoot. The GF2 has the same Intelligent Auto (iA) Mode as the LUMIX compact cameras, so you can let the camera do all the work with just the touch of a button. In iA Mode, the GF2 automatically detects and corrects a host of parameters to effortlessly deliver beautiful photos and videos. And with the newly incorporated Intelligent Resolution technology that is always engaged in iA Mode, you get high quality images with gorgeous clarity every time you press the shutter.

Intelligent D-range Control: You will take more natural-looking photos with the new Intelligent D-range control, which optimizes exposure on each part of an image. This prevents blocked shadows and blown highlights, ensuring that gradation and fine details are reproduced correctly. There's also an automatic backlight compensation feature that detects bright lighting behind your subject and corrects it before the image is stored. You can shoot with confidence in virtually any situation, capturing the shots you want at any time of day or night, even if you don't know the first thing about photo lighting.

Face Recognition: Face Recognition makes it easier than ever to take incredible portraits of the most important people in your life. The GF2 can "remember" faces that you register on the camera's memory. Simply take a full-face portrait of your subject and enter details like a name and birth date. Once registered, any time a saved face is detected the GF2 shows the display name you entered for that person and optimizes focus and exposure for bright, clear images. Up to three saved faces can be displayed at one time and you can register up to 15 different people. You'll get beautiful shots of your children, your family and your friends in any shooting situation thanks to Face Recognition.

Face Detection: Face Detection also enhances your vacation photos, holiday photos and party photos by automatically detecting human faces in a shot. Again, focus and exposure are optimized to create natural portraits with stunning detail and clarity, even when the frame is crowded. There's digital red-eye removal, too, so your subjects' facial expressions are more attractive and natural looking.

AF Tracking: You can use AF Tracking along with Face Detection to automatically focus and lock on subjects that are in motion, maintaining optimal focus until you press the shutter. If you have ever tried to take a picture of an active toddler, a pet at play, a child's dance recital or a sporting event, you know just how valuable this feature will be. You won't ever have to press the shutter halfway over and over again to readjust focus as you try to compose a shot. Once you engage AF Tracking on your desired subject, you can take all the time you need waiting for the perfect shooting opportunity, knowing that you'll get beautiful results every time.

Intelligent Scene Selector: The GF2's Intelligent Scene Selector automatically chooses the most appropriate scene mode for your shooting conditions. It will set the Scene Mode to Scenery, Night Scenery, Portrait, Night Portrait, Sunset or Macro by calculating the level of ambient lighting, focusing distance and whether human faces are present in the frame. You never have to worry about manually adjusting complex settings; just point and shoot and let the intuitive Intelligent Scene Selector do the rest.

Intelligent ISO Control: The Venus Engine powers the GF2's Intelligent ISO Control feature, which detects subject movement and automatically corrects shutter speed and ISO settings to accommodate the motion and light conditions. When the camera detects motion, it automatically raises ISO and increases shutter speed to prevent motion blur. When your subject remains still, the camera lowers ISO for clear, natural photos. You are free to take fantastic action shots and candid photos at sporting events, school performances, recitals, when on vacation and more, without the hassle or frustration of manual settings adjustment, or waiting for an active subject to sit still.

MEGA O.I.S.: Optical Image Stabilization is another way the GF2 combats blurring and ghosting in your photos. Sometimes, the movement of your hand as you press the shutter button to take a shot, causes the camera to shake, which can compromise the quality of the image. The MEGA O.I.S. system detects even the slightest camera vibrations caused by hand-shake so that you get sharp, clear images. Image stabilization also works with macro and zoom photos, which can be particularly susceptible to blurring, and also lets you shoot with confidence in low-light conditions.

Intuitive Touch Control: The GF2 is equipped with an intuitive touch control system; many of the camera's most useful functions can be activated with one simple tap on the responsive LCD screen.

Touch Control Shooting: With touch control shooting you have the freedom to frame great shots without missing a moment. Auto focus is set instantly, just by touching the image on the LCD screen. With just a touch those once-in-a-lifetime photos will come to you and you can capture them with full optimization and stunning image quality.

Touch Control Shutter: If you love taking action shots at sporting events, live performances or a night out on the town, the GF2's touch control shutter feature makes it possible to operate the shutter release and auto focus simultaneously. You will be able to capture dynamic fast-action images and those decisive moments with the best possible settings, in any situation.

Touch Control Defocus: For a lovely soft focus effect on any photo, simply engage the touch control defocus feature by sliding your finger across the indicator on the screen. This function gives you the ability to create more artistic expression in your photos.

Touch Control AF: Candid photos often capture some of life's best moments, but for most of us these shots can be extremely difficult to get just right. With the GF2's touch control auto focus, you can lock in on a moving subject with optimized focus until you are ready to take the picture. The intuitive touch screen even lets you select the precise size and area of focus for even more control over your images.

Movable MF Assist: If you prefer the power of adjusting camera settings manually, the touch screen has Moveable MF Assist mode, which lets you enlarge any part of an image just by touch, even when you're not using an automated function. You can zoom 1x, 5x or 10x before you snap the shot, making it much easier to check the focus and make any adjustments.

Touch Control Playback and Playback Zoom: Take full advantage of the GF2's large display screen with touch control playback and playback zoom. Just touch any part of your image to enlarge it: you can zoom in as much as the 16x maximum and then pan to other areas of the photo by sliding your finger across the screen. This makes it quick and easy to double check your photos for quality and clarity, which is extremely helpful if you are trying your hand at manual settings or just want to be sure you've captured a moment beautifully.

Extended Battery Life: Thanks to the Venus Engine image processor, which uses less energy than other digital image processors, you won't ever have to worry about running out of battery power during a long day of shooting with the GF2. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery gives you up to 320 shots on a single charge, making the GF2 ideal for travel, parties, holidays or any occasion when you want the freedom of an extended shooting time without having to stop to switch out or recharge a battery.

Summary

For the power of a DSLR with the portability of a compact point-and-shoot, there's no better choice than the DMC-GF2 from Panasonic. The lightweight aluminum chassis, ergonomic grip, slight profile, intuitive features and advanced technology make this one of the easiest digital cameras to use, while the interchangeable lenses give you greater creative control over your photos and videos. The tiny, pocket-sized GF2 is truly a versatile and pleasantly surprising camera.

BURST SHOOTING: Number of recordable images7 images (when there are RAW files with the particular speed)Unlimited consecutive shooting (when there are no RAW files)(depending on memory card size, battery power, picture size, and compression)

Reviews

DMC-GF2C is rated
5.0 out of
5 by
4.

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Anonymous from
Best Camera EverBought this camera last summer, This is one of the best purchase ever. The camera is so light and picture quality is amazing. You don't need to carry big DSLR and other accessories. Point and shots are good but in low lighting they are little disappointment. I use this camera indoor and outdoor, quality is good as big DSLR. You get most the manual features. Not a very big fan of touch screen. But that is not just this camera. I don't like any touch screen camera.
Pictures are crisp and lighting is never been an issue.
Totally recommend to friend and family.

Date published: 2012-05-18

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Anonymous from
great camera, meets expectationsdon't have to carry the heavy and bulky dslr but still could take dslr quality fotos!

Date published: 2011-07-12

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Anonymous from
the best everlove it!!!!

Date published: 2011-03-16

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Anonymous from
best camera evergood and magnificent

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I am a professional photographer who is seriously considering switching to the Lumix mirrorless cameras. Does Panasonic have, or can you suggest, a web site that demonstrates how professional photographers are successfully using the Lumix professional cameras?

In conjunction with our Panasonic.com web site, our Sales and Marketing team also runs LUMIXLOUNGE.COM This site features work from Panasonic’s Luminary team of professional photographers who have migrated to the Lumx mirrorless cameras. The site also features schedules to live on-line and dealer events as well as convenient links to our latest firmware updates. Additional features to expand the site are already in progress.

Have more questions concerning your Panasonic camera?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

Why am I unable to use the VIERA Link operation when connected to TV with a mini HDMI connection?

For this feature to work aVIERA Link compatible Panasonic TV is required as well as the recommended Panasonic mini HDMI cable which is an optional accessory http://shop.panasonic.com/support. The Panasonic TV remote can be used to control camera picture playback functions on TV.

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Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

How do I install firmware in my camera using an SD card?

Digital Still Camera Firmware Update Guide.

1) Preparation before attempting the update.

A. Make sure the camera's battery is completely charged. If the battery is not completely charged the firmware update will not begin. Format the SD memory card in the camera, then take a couple of pictures.

B. Turn off the camera.

2) Copying the Firmware to your memory card.

A. Download the latest firmware update for your model by clicking on the "Download Ver. X.X " link to a location on your computer (we recommend the "Desktop").

E."Drag" to Copy and Paste" the .bin file from the opened folder to the drive with the SD Card showing in your"My Computer" window for"PC" users and"Finder" or"Drive" in Macs. This will copy the file to the card.

F. If you choose to leave the SD Card in your camera, connect the camera to the PC with the USB cable. Turn the camera on and set it to"Playback" mode. Then select"PC" on the LCD screen. Drag the .bin file from the opened folder to the device that either says Panasonic or mass storage to complete the transfer.

G."SDXC cards, 32GB or larger, require special card readers. Depending on your PC, and the age of its operating system, you may not be able to directly write to such large cards. If your PC asks you to format the card, DO NOT, this is one indication that your system is not compatible with the newer larger memory cards. In this case a smaller card, 16GB or smaller should be used.

3) Updating the camera's firmware.

A. Turn the Camera off, insert the SD Card if you copied the firmware to the card while inserted into the computer.

B. Turn the Camera power on and press the"Playback" button. The camera's LCD screen should now be showing a screen asking if you desire to"Update" the firmware. Highlight"Yes" and press the"Menu/Set" button.

C. When the Camera has completed the firmware update it will turn itself off and then back on.

D. This completes the update process.

4) Confirming the update.

A. Turn the camera's power back on.

B. Set to"Playback" Mode.

C. Choose the"Setup" menu.

D. Select Version Disp.

Digital Still Camera Firmware Update Guide.

1) Preparation before attempting the update.

A. Make sure the camera's battery is completely charged. If the battery is not completely charged the firmware update will not begin. Format the SD memory card in the camera, then take a couple of pictures.

B. Turn off the camera.

2) Copying the Firmware to your memory card.

A. Download the latest firmware update for your model by clicking on the "Download Ver. X.X " link to a location on your computer (we recommend the "Desktop").

E."Drag" to Copy and Paste" the .bin file from the opened folder to the drive with the SD Card showing in your"My Computer" window for"PC" users and"Finder" or"Drive" in Macs. This will copy the file to the card.

F. If you choose to leave the SD Card in your camera, connect the camera to the PC with the USB cable. Turn the camera on and set it to"Playback" mode. Then select"PC" on the LCD screen. Drag the .bin file from the opened folder to the device that either says Panasonic or mass storage to complete the transfer.

G."SDXC cards, 32GB or larger, require special card readers. Depending on your PC, and the age of its operating system, you may not be able to directly write to such large cards. If your PC asks you to format the card, DO NOT, this is one indication that your system is not compatible with the newer larger memory cards. In this case a smaller card, 16GB or smaller should be used.

3) Updating the camera's firmware.

A. Turn the Camera off, insert the SD Card if you copied the firmware to the card while inserted into the computer.

B. Turn the Camera power on and press the"Playback" button. The camera's LCD screen should now be showing a screen asking if you desire to"Update" the firmware. Highlight"Yes" and press the"Menu/Set" button.

C. When the Camera has completed the firmware update it will turn itself off and then back on.

D. This completes the update process.

4) Confirming the update.

A. Turn the camera's power back on.

B. Set to"Playback" Mode.

C. Choose the"Setup" menu.

D. Select Version Disp.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

Why do I have spots on some of my photos?

Spots can occur due to dust or dirt inside the lens, or when flash is used in a very dusty environment.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

Can I use the touch shutter function while recording video?

No, photos cannot be shot while recording video.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

Can this camera take video?

Yes. This unit can record motion pictures in either AVCHD or MP4 formats.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

How long is the video recording time?

The camera will record video for up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.

Will the camera stop continuous recording video using the SDHC or SDXC when it reaches 4GB ?

In AVCHD video recording, the file will be divided, but it will not stop recording video. In MP4 video recording, recording will stop when 4GB is reached.

Require further assistance?

Click here to visit the Panasonic Community to search for specific FAQs or tutorials for your product or ask questions directly to Panasonic or other customers.